Originally posted by Dave L Asahi Optical had their name in small print on the bottom plate after they dropped Asahi from the pentaprism cover, at least on non-USA models. I imagine.change. that RICOH will be there too.
I checked my Super Program right now. It doesn't have a bottom plate; the bottom "shows wear" as they say on eBay - in fact the entire body does (for example, one of the rings that is supposed to attach to the strap is gone). It served me for 11 long hard years (for it) - and its reliability is one of the reasons I came back to Pentax when I had two Canon Rebels die on me in less than eight years.
I guess I'm one of the odd ones around here. I wouldn't mind if the camera said "Ricoh" on the back; in fact, I wouldn't mind if it said "Ricoh
Pentax" on the pentaprism box. My only requirement is that they put Pentax into the camera. (but, honestly, right now I don't have the cash to buy a K-1, so I guess they don't care much about my opinion).